William Strunk

Born in Cincinnati on July 1, 1869, and later based in Ithaca, New York, William Strunk Jr. was an American professor of English at Cornell University. He is most closely associated with The Elements of Style, a compact guide to writing that began as a private handbook for his students.

Strunk favored plain, direct expression, and that approach gave his work unusual staying power. What started as a classroom text in 1918 went on to become one of the most widely recognized style guides in English, especially after later editions brought it to a much larger audience.

He died on September 26, 1946. Even so, his name remains closely tied to the idea that strong writing should be clear, concise, and disciplined.